EXCELSIOR

This beautiful lakeside suburb takes advantage of its setting by offering
a variety of outdoor events year-round.

Image by Todd Buchanan/Greenspring Media

Perched directly on the south wharf of the iridescent blues of Lake Minnetonka, Excelsior feels like a neighborhood pulled straight from the East Coast with a touch of Minnesota nice. Located west of Minneapolis, this small but substantial community offers delectable restaurants, historic Victorian homes and plenty of things to do year-round.

The Excelsior Commons and Port of Excelsior are true bonuses of living in Excelsior: a spacious green area with walking and biking trails, gorgeous views of the lake, playgrounds, swimming beaches and boat docks. The park also offers annual events for families. Walkability is a huge plus of Excelsior, and it is located only 20 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and is accessible by Metro Transit.

The Concerts in the Park series takes over Excelsior every summer, Apple Day is a perfect pick in September, and Christkindlsmarkt begins in winter, inspired by German Christmas festivals. Theater-goers will love the historic charm of the Old Log Theatre, established in 1940, that still offers smart plays and musicals year-round. In the summer, boating or taking a cruise on the lake are popular activities. And the historic charm of Excelsior comes alive when taking a streetcar ride on the Excelsior Trolley No. 78.

Antique shops and beautiful boutiques line the aptly-named Water Street in Excelsior. Maison offers European treasures, and favorite dining spots include Maynard’s, Coalition and The Suburban. Aficionados will love Wine Republic’s sustainable and organic wines to taste or take home.

Excelsior offers the perfect ambiance of small-town lakeside living without ever being too far from the action of the city.